15 MLB scouts flock to see Hough pitcher Tyler Baird. Huskies beat South Meck in thriller
The 15 major league scouts who descended on the Hough High School baseball field on a chilly Thursday evening were long gone when the Huskies’ Derek Guzman ended a clash of perennial Mecklenburg County powers in dramatic fashion.
Guzman slugged a two-out walkoff grand slam as Hough won 5-3 over South Mecklenburg in eight innings.
Guzman’s winning blast came a half-inning after his throwing error allowed the visiting Sabres to take a 3-1 lead — and one batter after South Mecklenburg walked Jaxon Matthews intentionally to load the bases.
“When they walked Jaxon, I knew I had to come through,” Guzman said.
He did so by sending reliever Louten Mehalic’s 0-1 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field.
“That whole inning started after two outs,” Hough coach Pete Jenkins said. “We just wouldn’t quit and Derek came through in a big way for us.”
Earlier, 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander Tyler Baird was the focus of attention from major league scouts with radar guns, video cameras and laptop computers as they watched him go four more hitless innings with three walks and seven strikeouts before departing after having thrown 74 pitches. Most of Baird’s pitches were clocked at low to mid-90 mph.
It was Baird’s second start of the year after he went four no-hit innings with two walks, six strikeouts and 65 pitches in a combined no-hitter with reliever Lochlan Robins in Hough’s 5-1 season-opening victory at Cox Mill on Feb. 25.
Baird has committed to play at Vanderbilt University but is considered one of the state’s top pro prospects and is expected to be selected in July’s major league draft.
Three who made a difference
Derek Guzman, Hough: Shortstop had two hits — a double and home run — for the Huskies.
Andrew Gerow, South Mecklenburg: Center fielder coaxed a game-opening walk from Hough starter Tyler Baird and collected two singles off Huskies relievers.
Jaxon Matthews, Hough: Junior center fielder who has already committed to Clemson got one hit, scored two runs and drew three walks.
Notable
▪ Hough (2-1) and South Mecklenburg (2-3) have some of the richest baseball tradition in the county with the Huskies making the playoffs 13 straight seasons, highlighted by a 2012 4A state runner-up finish and South Mecklenburg winning state titles in 1989 and 2013. It finished as state runner-up in 1999 and 2005.
▪ The contest began with breezy conditions at 50 degrees and finished with temperatures in the low 40s and wind chills in the 30s.
▪ Both teams open their respective league slates next week — Hough at home Tuesday against Queen City 3A/4A rival North Mecklenburg and South Mecklenburg at home Tuesday against Berry Academy in the SoMeck 4A; South Mecklenburg plays at Watauga on Saturday in a non-league game.
They said it
“We’re just trying to get some game experience. Hough-South Meck is always a good game. The moment might have been too big for our young team. But down the road it’ll help us.” — South Mecklenburg coach Brian Hoop
LINE SCORE
South Mecklenburg 000 000 12 - 3 3 0
Hough 000 010 04 - 5 8 2
WP: Hank Tipton. LP: Louten Mehalic. Top hitters: SM - Andrew Gerow 2-4, Hough - Derek Guzman 2-4 (2b, HR, 4 RBIs), Daniel Eber 2-2 (RBI).
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This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 6:15 AM.